Racing-machine for cutting leather



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. F. STOWE.

RACING MACHINE-FOR CUTTING LEATHER.

INVENT DR Patented Oct. 13, 1 85.

H n T llllllllllllll iii! 1] IIIIIIIIM IIU. .lll

, WITNESSES (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. F. STOWE.

RACING MACHINE FOR GUTTING LEATHER.

Np; 328,078. Patented Oct. 13, 1885.

WITNEEE E5 INVENTUR I (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. F. ST OWE. RAGING MAGHINE FOR CUTTING LEATHER. No. 328,078. Patented Oct. 13, 1885 'WITNEESES INVENTUR W I 4 y waw mm wu/Amw 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

A. P. STOWE.-

RACING MACHINE FOR GUTTING LEATHER.

No. 328,078. Patented Ooh 13, 1885.

INVENTDR Mm MQMMQZZ WITNESSES D stripping leather, belting, &c., which operates cutting apparatus on a somewhat larger scale.

1 UNITED STATES PATENT -()Frrcn AARON FRANCIS STOWE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

RACING MACHINEFOR CU TTING LEATHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,078, dated October 13, 1885.

Application filed March 7, 1885. Serial No. 158,036. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AARON FRANCIS STOWE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county-got Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Racing-Machines for Cutting Leather, Belting, and other Stock; and I declare the following to be a description of my said invention sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification.

The objects of my present invention are to provide an improved racing-machine for stripping leather, belting, and for similar purposes; to provide a cutting-knife for racing stock or with the peculiar shearing motion hereinafter explained; to provide an automatically-operating holding mechanism for retaining the stock in position while the knife is performing its cutting action and for releasing the stock after the cutting is effected; to provide an adjustable gage for facilitating the cutting of the belts or strips to the desired width; to afford means for the convenient, ready, and simultaneous adjustment of the gages for different parallel widths of belting; to provide yielding gage-pins which will permit of the strips or belting being passed over said pins by slight excess of pressure. These objects I attain by mechanism the nature, construction, and operation of which is illustrated in the drawings, and explained in the following description,thc particularsubject-matter claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

Figure 1 is a front view of my improved racing-machine, the length of the machine being shown shortened to bring it within the limits of the sheet. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line as m. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the Fig. 4is aview showing the detail of construction of the holding mechanism. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section showing plan of the operating mechanism. Fig. (3 is a backview of the knife-bar in depressed position. Fig. 7 shows the form of the cam for operating the holding mechanism. Fig. 8 is a vertical seced to the cutting apparatus.

tion showing the detail of construction of the gage-pin devices.

In reference to the drawings, A denotes the supportingframe. A is the main beam or bed-support. A is the top beam, upon which are mounted the cutting and holding devices.

B indicates the knife-bar, which supports the blades or cutters O. Said knife-bar is arranged against the side of the beam A, its ends being mounted on cranks D and E, fixed on the ends of short shafts or rotative studs D and E, which are supported in hearings on the beam A, and by which motion is impart The adjacent surfaces of the knife-bar and beam are accurately planed, so as to slide smoothly upon each other, and the knife-bar is securedto the beam at intervals of its length by bolts 1), which pass through slots formed in the beam A and screw into the body of the knife-bar in a manner to permit free movement of the bar, while retaining it closely against the beam,

(see Figs. 1 and 3,) said slots being formed on lines developed by the movement of the knifebar at the positions of the respective bolts.

The short studs or shafts D and E, which carry the cranks D and E, pass through their hearings to the opposite side of the beam A", the shaft D being provided at its opposite end with a crank or arm, Dflwhile shaft E is provided with a double crank or angle lever, E the lower arm, f, of which is connected by a rod, F,with the arm D, while the upper arm, e, is connected by a rod, G, with a crank or wrist-pin fixed in. a plate, G, arranged on the forward end of the operating-shaft H.

Cranks D and E, on which the knife-bar is D swings downward in a curve below the axis of its shaft, while crank E swings downward in a curve above the axis of its shaft, the length of movement embracing about onemounted, are relatively located so that crank quarter of a circle, (more or-less,) or from the positions shown in Fig. l to the positions shown in Fig. 6.

The movement is imparted from the crankshaft H through the rod G, double crank E",

'rod F, and cranks D and- D, the crank D hav ing a close bearing in the end of the'knife-bar, while the crank E works in a slot in the knifebar.

With this arrangement of parts the end of the knife-bar connected with the crank D is moved downward rapidly at the first part of the crank action and slowly at the latter part,

while there is imparted thereby a longitudinal movement slowly at the first part of its crank action'and' more rapidly-at thelatter parts Bed-support or beam A is provided at its top with a steel plate or facing,v I, across the edge of which theknife shears for cutting the stock.

Tables a and a, mounted on suitable brackets, are arranged at the level of the bed-plate I for supporting the stock. The bed-plate I is held to the support or beam A by serews'i,

. which pass through slots,and adj usting-screws j are provided, whereby said plate can be ac-- curately' adjusted, so that its shearing-edge a of the knife-bar, which screw against the top J indicates holding-bars or pressers, for re will meet the cutter C.

The blade or cutter C may be made in one, two, or more sections, and secured to the knife-bar by bolts 0, which pass through slots in the blade and screw into, the metal of the bar,while screws 0 are arranged in the flange of the blade to facilitate adjustment and for retaining it solidly against upward strains.

taining the stock W in position upon the bed while being cut. Said bars are attached'to the lower ends of rods J ,that extend through bearings on beamAfland connect with the upper arms of angle-levers K, which are fulcrumed, as at k, on said beam A, with their lower arms pivoted to collars 1, arranged loosely uponapull-rod, L, that is connected with mechanism for operating the holding devices. The collars Z are severally arranged in connection with a spring, m, and confined between two collars, n and'n, arranged on the rodL, and firmly secured in position by set-screws, as indicated inFigs. 1 and 4, which lattcrfigure shows the parts in. position, as with the bar J depressed. A

When the rod L is moved in' one direction, (see Fig. 1,) the collar n presses against the collar 1 and elevates the rods J and presserfoot J and when said rod L is moved in the opposite direction, (see Fig. 4,) the collar n and spring at actuate the levers K for depressing the rods J, and forcing the holding bar or feet J .down upon the stock \V, thereby, clamping it firmly upon the bed. The springs on give ayielding action independently to the respective rods J, so that when either of said rods reaches solid bearing upon the stock the spring contracts to the full movement of the rod L, the collar Z sliding away from the collar it, thus bringing each of the rodsdown to a firm bearing regardless of irregularities in thickness of the stock under the several rods. Rod L is connected to alever, M, fulcrumed on the end frame of the machine,and thelower end of said'lever is linked toa reciprocating rod, N, arranged through suitable bearings and providedwith a stud and friction-roli I that runs in the groove of a suitable cam, N, fixed on the shaft H at the back of thecrank G, and by'meansof whieh'the holding mechanism is operated.

v Shaft H, which is supported in suitable bearings, as indicated, is" provided with a bevel-gear, O, which meshes with and is operated by a pinion, P, on the driving-shaft P. The driving-pulley P runs loose on' the driving-shaft and is connected for action by a sliding'clutch,Q, the operating-fork of which,

Q, is attached to the end of a reciprocatingshipper-rod, R, as indicated on Fig. 5.

The shipper-rod is actuated for throwing the clutch outof action by means of a spring, S, arranged on the end of said rod and strained between the supporting-bearing and an adj ustable collar fixed on the end of. said rod, and said rod is actuated for throwing the clutch into mesh with the pulley by means of afrocker-shaft, '1", and treadle T, which extend across the machine, the shipper-rod being connected to an arm, '1, on said rocker-shaft, by means of an angle-lever, t, and connection t, ar-

ranged in such a manner that the depression of the treadle throws the clutch into mesh,

where it is retained by a latch, U, that drops behind acollar, V, fixed on the rod, thus re-' taining the clutch in mesh while shaft H makes one revolution, and until the-latch is tripped by a suitable lug, w, fixed on the back of the gear 0, which lugby elevating the latch permits the spring S to throw the clutch out of mesh and stops the machine. *The parts are so adjusted that the stopping of the machine is eii'ected when the wrist-pin of the crank G and the knife-bar and holding mechanism are in elevated positions.

The rear table, a, is provided with lateral guid'eways, in which traverse adjustable slides 4, which support gage-pins 5. Said slides are connected with bands 6, which run over sprocketqvheels 7 and 8, respectively, located at the outer ends of the table-supporting brack ets, and upon a shaft, 9, arranged along the rear side of the bed-supporting beam A, (see dotted lines, Fig. 2,) which shaft is connected. by suitable bevelgears with a hand-wheel,

shaft, 10, which extends forward from'near the end of the beam, and is provided with a hand-wheel, 11, in convenient reach of the operator, whereby said gage-pin mechanism can be readily and conveniently adjusted for changing the position of the gage-pins to a greater or less distance from the cutters.- The peri pheryof the hand-wheel 11 may be graduated in suitable divisions to correspond with over and the receding movement of the gage-pins, in inches or parts of inches, so that by moving said wheel in connection with a suitable index-vfinger the graduations serve as a guide for placing the gagcpins at any required dislance from the knife, so as to cut ofi' strips or belts of any desired width, from one inch to three feet, more or less.

The gagepins are preferably made as indicated in Fig. 8, the pin 5 being pivoted at its lower end, so that it can swing backward into the interior of the slide-block, and provided with a spring, 13, which presses against a lug on. the back of the pin for supporting-it in an upright position, as indicated, the tension of the spring being adjusted so as to give the required force for holding the pin in upright position at a given pressure, or sufficiently to act as a guide in placing the'leather, while at the same time an excess of pressure against the pin will cause the spring to be depressed and the pin to drop into the slide-block, thus the operator, after strip of leather cut off, to force said severed strip beyond the pins by a quick pressure of the edge of the stock against the severed strip, the pins again coming into upright position after the strip has been forced past them.

In practice, for racing or stripping up whole skins of belting leather, the machine may be made some nine feet in len th, (more or less,) and be provided with some six sets of holdingrods, J, leather the machine may be made considerably shorter and with a less number of holdingrods J.

It will be understood that I do not confine myself to any particular length of cutting-bed or any particular number of holders, as in these respects the machine may be varied to suit the requirements of use. The size and strength of the different parts of the machine can be varied as required for light or heavy work.

In the operation of the machine the leather or stock is passed into the machine beneath the knife to the required distance, or so that its rear edgev rests against the pins 5. The attendant then places his foot upon and dcpresses the treadle, whichthrows the clutch into action, causing the shaft H torotate, when the action of the cam N and its connections causes the pressers to descend upon the leather for holding it in place, while the crank G and its connections effects the depression of the knife in the manner hereinbefore de scribed, severing the strip of leather in a straight and perfect manner. As the crank G and cam N complete the revolution the knife is again elevated, together with the holding devices, and the lug w, on the gear 0, coming in contact with the latch trips the shipping mechanism and throws oil the clutch, stopping the machine. The operator then by a quick backward movement of the leather from the front of the machine forces the severed strip back over the gage-pins, and if the enabling has been portingnnd actuating cranks l),

crank, as E,

while for racing half-skins or sides of next strip to be severed is for a different width of belting he adjusts the pins to the proper position by turning the hand-wheel 11, and then adjusts the leather beneath the knife and again places his foot upon the treadle, and the operation is repeated.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of the k'nile bar for carrying the cutting blade or blades, of the supdisposed for operation, as set forth, whereby a peculiar shearing draw-cut is imparted to said blade, as hereinbefore described.

2. The combination of the knife-bar and its guiding-beam, of a crank, as I), having its wrist-pin lit-ting closely in said kniiebar, a

longitudinal slot in said knife-bar, shafts, as E I), for said cranks, journalcd in said beam, and having cranks at their opposite ends connccted to each other by a rod, as F, and a connecting-rod, as G, and crank G, or means for partially rotating said shafts for imparting motion to said knife-bar, substantially as set forth. I i

3. In a machine for racing or cutting stock or belting. the combination of the beams A and A, the knife-bar B, supported on the beam A and carrying the cutting blade or blades (J, and the adjustable facing or shear plate I, supported onthe beam A, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. "In a machine for racing stock or stripping leather belting, the combination of aracingcutter, apresser bar or foot for holding the stock down upon the bed, and mechanism, substantially as described, for automatically depressing said holding-bar while the knifcis making its out and elevating it when the knife is elevated, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the prcsser bar or bars .T, the rods J, the angle-levers K, connected to said rod and fulcrumed, as at l.','and the pull-rod L, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination of the pressersJ, guiderods J, angle-levers K, pull-rod L, collars l, n, and a, and springs in, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination, with the pull-rod L and the presser mechanism actuated thereby, of the lever M, the reciprocating bar N, having stud and roll, and the camN, substantiall y as and for the purposes set forth.

8. The combination, with the knife-bar and its operating-cranks arranged for action, as set forth, of the shaft H, having crank G, the gearO, pinion P, driving-shafuP, pulley I, clutch Q, shipper-rod 1%, spring S, latch U, trip-lug w, treadlc T,'shaft T, and conncctions t t, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a machi he for racing stock or stripping leather, the combination, with the cuttingknife, of the gage-pins 5, mounted on adjustable slides working in guideways across the having its wrist-pin fitted to a nected with said gage-slides; the sprocket;

wheels 7 and 8, shafts 9 and 10, and hand-wheel 11, substantia1ly as and for the" purposes set forth.

' oi" belting, the combination-,with the cuttingk'nife, of a yielding gage or pins movably connected to the gage-adjusting slide and sus- I 5 tained i-n'working position'by a spring oreleyating device that permits said gage to give way or turn oven with excess of pressure, substantially ashereinbeforc described. 7 f

1 12.- In a machine for racing stock, he com-' 20 bination of. the supporting-bed having the I 'havingan interior opening, the gage-pin piv- 11'; In a machinefor racing'or cntt ingleather.

1 Witnesses:

. face or shear plata the racing-knife shearing acrossthe angle of said plate, automatic hold" ing mechanism, vsubstantially as described,

for retaining the stockv upon the bed whiie it is cut, the adjustable yielding gagel or gages at the rear of said knife, andgmechanism for imparting motion to said parts, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth. I

' 13.: The combination-of the adjusting-slide oted therein, at its lower endto-turn down within said opening, and the spring-pressing against said pin for returning it to nprightposition, substantially as shown and described;

Witness my hand this 9th dayof October; 35 A.D.1884 t AARON FRANCIS STOWE.

- CHAS. H.. BURLEIGH, Y S. R: BARTON. 

